Big league clubs have until 5 p.m. Friday to sign the star 25-year-old right-hander. More than half-dozen teams have made bids or will do so by Friday, the Times reports.

In addition to the Yankees, teams in the Tanaka mix include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

"It is believed that all of the serious teams are prepared to offer Tanaka more than $100 million over at least six years," according to the report.

The Yankees, in need of starting pitching help, appear willing to go above their long-stated luxury-tax threshold of $189 million to land Tanaka, who went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA last year for the Japan Series champion Rakuten Golden Eagles.